Jack the Genius of Course Managment

[Yoda]

Boys Jack was an amazing strategist. I have been reading his book Playing Lessons . . . produced back in the 70's when I was totin' a GI Joe Lunch Box with the PBJ and pop tarts to school. The book still resonates. Y'all gotta have this book.

I play an old style course with fast undulating greens. I used to just pound driver everywhere. Not no mo'. I hit about 3 drivers per round now. This game is about POSITION . . . just like buying a new crib . . . LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.

I had been pounding driver and having alot of downhill and side hill lies. Now I hit 3 woods 5 woods and pecker woods to leave myself the most manageable lie. An example . . . there is a hole on our course #2 hdcp . . . If I bust a driver I got a 5 iron to 4 iron in . . . straight up a hill. Now I hit 5 wood off the tee and then hit pecker wood or 5 wood to the green. I can stop a pecker wood much quicker than I can a 5 iron.

Another thing to watch is playing for the fat part of the fairway. We got a short little hole and driver will leave you a little pitch. However you gotta squeeze that driver between a trap left and OB right. No more . . . now it's 5 wood short of the trap to the absolute widest part of the fairway leaving the best angle and still it's a 9 iron in.

We got a long par 3 that undulates big time back to front . . . I mean you can slap putt a ball of the green quick fast in a hurry if you are above the hole. Used to try to hit the ball pin high from 185 to 200 yards . . . No more just hit a 6 iron to the front . . . It don't matter where the pin is. Just hit it to the front leaving a manageable up hill chip/sand shot or putt.

Having a plan and the right plan is HUGE in golf . . . the score card don't give a rats azz how far you hit your big stick.

Great post, Bucket. I learned from it. Thanks!